Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Physics. New York State Department
of Education, 2006: 4.

"Resistivities at 20 °CSilver: 1.59 × 10-8 Ωm"

1.59 × 10-8 Ωm

Silver (Ag) is a ductile, malleable, white metal, found in Group I B on the
periodic table of elements. Silver is a transition element, meaning that its
valence electrons are present in more than one shell. This aspect of the element
produces numerous oxidation states.

The resistivity of a material is a measurement of its opposition to an electric
current. In an electric circuit, the greater the resistance to the flow of
electrons, the weaker the electric current will be. Likewise, the smaller
the resistance within the circuit, the greater the electric current.

Resistivity is represented by ρ, the Greek letter "rho", and is measured
in Ohm-meters (Ω m). Resistivity is found using the equation:

ρ = RA/ℓ

R is the resistance of the sample, A is its cross sectional area, and ℓ is
its length. Resistivity has to be stated along with the temperature because
the resistivity of a material is often directly proportional to its temperature.

ρ ∝ T

The resistivity of silver is about 1.59 × 10-8 Ωm
at 20 degrees Celsius. This tiny amount means that silver cannot resist the
flow of electrons very well. Because resistivity is also inversely proportional
to the conductivity of a substance, silver is an excellent conductor. Conductors
normally have low resistances and carry currents very easily. Silver has
the highest electrical conductivity of any element and can therefore used
in circuit boards, batteries, generators, transformers, transmission, and
any form of wiring that is needed. However, silver is very expensive, and
thus only has special uses.

Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Physics. New York State Department of Education, 2002

"Resistivities at 20 °CSilver - 1.59 × 10-8 Ωm"

1.59 × 10-8 Ωm

Resistivity is a characteristic of a material that determines the ability of the material to oppose a flow of electrons, or electricity. Resistivity is expressed by the Greek letter rho, ρ, and is a key factor in determining the resistance of a uniform specimen in an electric circuit (R = ρl/A, with l representing a length and A representing a cross sectional area). Resistivity is measured in ohm·meters (Ωm).

Silver is number 47 on the periodic table of the elements. A transition metal, silver, or Ag, is a white metal, with excellent reflectivity. It is also very durable and resistant to corrosion thus making it ideal as one of the earliest and, most enduring, forms of currency.

The resistivity of silver is 1.6 × 10-8 Ωm (0.000000016 Ωm). This is number is a very small number. This means that silver has a small capability of resisting electrical current. With its small natural tendency to resist electricity, it has a very high tendency to conduct electricity. This would make silver an ideal material to use for wiring or other insulation devices. It is even superior to the standard copper wires, which have a resistivity slightly higher than silver (1.7 × 10-8 Ωm).